THE battle lines have been drawn between ActionSA and the eThekwini Municipality as they head to Pietermaritzburg High Court this morning for a two-day hearing that will determine the City’s accountability in the ongoing sewage crisis.

ActionSA KZN chairperson Zwakele Mncwango said that the party “filed papers in 2022 against eThekwini Municipality, citing the violations of the constitutionally enshrined rights of eThekwini residents to a safe and clean environment and their right to economic development”.

ActionSA’s legal action asks the courts to declare the failures of the eThekwini Municipality unconstitutional and to compel the municipality to produce a plan to turn around the crisis that will be made a time-bound order of court.

Also Read: Umngeni Estuary, Blue Lagoon Beach closed following sewage discharge

In a joint statement with national chairperson Michael Beaumont, the provincial party leader said the sewage crisis has impacted the city profoundly, causing a drop in tourism, “from 15 million visitors in 2015 to less than 800 000 in 2023”.

“If ActionSA is successful either the sewage crisis will be resolved, or senior eThekwini Municipality officials will be jailed in contempt of court for any deviation from the court-ordered turnaround plan,” said Mncwango.

He said ActionSA is pleased that this matter is finally before the courts and looks forward to the opportunity to fight this long overdue fight on behalf of all residents of eThekwini. “It’s clear from the past few years that the eThekwini Municipality has not resolved this issue and is indifferent to their constitutional violations of the rights of its residents,” added Mncwango.

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